Flat screen



June 13, 1939- D. M, wATERoUs 2,161,989

FLAT SCREEN Filed July 29, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 13, 1939. D. M. wATr-:Rous

FLAT SCREEN Filed July 29, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Donald M Waler'ous BY wg", @am

ATTORNEY June 13, 1939. D. M. wATERous FLAT SCREEN Filed July 29, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 LUL,

. lNvENToR' Donald M. Y'Vaerous ATTORNEY L f, am 7 June 13, 1939.

|: .M. wA'rERous 2,161,989

FLAT SCREEN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 29, 1936 Donald M Waterous @W2k m ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1.939

UNITED' STATES. PATENT OFFICE 2,161,989' y Donald- M.

Waterous,

Canada, assignor to Waterons, Ltd., Brantford, Ontario, Canada, a corporation o f Canada d Application July 29, 1936, Serial-No. 98.173

lnlanada February 14.11936 will provide for less wear and longer life, as well as facilitating replacement.

More specifically, the objects of the invention are:

l. To provide a construction relieving the eccentric drive bearings from the weight of the diaphragm plate, thus confining the eccentric to its proper function-of vibrating the diaphragm. l5 2. To provide an operating unit for screens of this type which may be applied as a unit to old types of machines, thus to provide them with new and 'improved facilities when replacement is necessary.

3. To provide a structure that can be readily repaired and kept in substantially continuous operation even though the eccentric drive of one or more units goes out of order.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists essentially in one phase, of a flat screen including a conventional vat carrying a screen diaphragm and diaphragm actuating plate arranged in operative relationship, the latter having connected thereto an operating member in which. the diaphragm plate has associated therewith resilient means for relieving the weight of the plate from the operating member. In another phase the .invention concerns a complete" and eillcient drive for flat screens which may be readily applied generally to flat screens as a drive replacement and which includes novel combinations and arrangements for facilitating operation in which the foregoing feature preferably forms a part, as described in the following speciilcation and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form part of the same. lInthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in section of the apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of one of the eccentric driving members;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing -a'modiilcatiom and Fig. 'l is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 6.' Referring to the drawings A indicates the de vioeas a whole, which includes the supportsl I0 which carry the vat Il. Within the vat is mounted the conventional `screen I2 carried onA suitable suppolts I3 and Il below which extends the usual diaphragm ii. .Below the screen the vat framework is divided by" partitions I6. Y, In be- 5 tween each pair' of partitions the diaphragm is connected to a diaphragm operating member B which may be the structure as shown, including a wooden facing I1 adapted to connect with the diaphragm and which is secured to the dia- 1o phragm'plate il, the diaphragm being continuous and passing through the partitions i6 to connect. with the adjacent diaphragm operating members.

' The screen operates in the ordinary manner, the

stock being flowed into the vatabove the screen llil and upon vibration of the diaphragm the ne pulp is sucked through the screen during the downward movement of the diaphragm whereas any coarse or large particles which tend to clog the openings in the screen are dislodged upon the im upward movement of the diaphragm.

During operation the screened stock is carried y away from lthe vat through the discharge outlet I! provided to one side of the vat which communicates with a discharge trough 2l over a dam 25 2l, the latter being employed to maintain the del sir'ed level in the vat.

An important feature of the invention resides in a means for relieving the driving member for the diaphragm plate ofthe weight of the latter 30 so that the drive is confined to its normal function of vibrating the diaphragm and does not have, therefore, the weight ofthe plate imposed upon the bearings. This feature will be described along with the general description of the drive 35 and mountings hereunder.

The driving unit preferably includes a longitudinally extending bridge-tree or main trough-like support 22 which extends between and -is suspended from the main supports Il, see partlcu- 40 larly Fig. 1. It will be noted that the bridge-tree is provided with suitable' flanges 22* resting upon the transversely extending feet 2! of the main supports Il .to which they are bolted as -at 24.' The troughlike' portion 25 of the bridge-tree or 45 longitudinal support is designed `to accommodate the drive shaft 2i and bearings therefor 21 as well as the eccentrics 2l for the diaphragmplate operating member 29 and other enlarged parts connected with the drive shaft. Projecting -from the bridge-tree or longitudinal support are suitable pede'stals or the like 3l, see Fig. 3, upon which are mounted brackets or secondary frame members 3l which extend transversely to the extent of the width of the apparatus and assist inv 5.5

the supportfof the vat structure. As may be noted particularly from Fig. l, a pair of brackets flanks the operating member for each diaphragm plate and carried on the brackets in a position to register with and contact thc diaphragm plato I8 are rubber cushion members Il. These resilient members projecting from the bracket therefore take the weight of the diaphragm plate and thus relieve the bearing in the eccentric operating member for the diaphragm plate so that the bearing and eccentric are called upon only to vibrate the diaphragm. The mounting of the cushions or resilient means Il includes an adjustment 34 whereby the proper tension can be applied to carry the particular weight of the parts. Instead oi' rubber cushions other resillent'means such as springs might be employed.

It will be apparent, -therefore, that this development introduced to an old construction of screen or coupled with a new structure will provide a much more eiiicient development which will permit of easier operation and provide for less wear and longer life of the structure.A

The drive as a unit also forms a salient feature of the invention as a combination alone or coupled with the weight relieving structure for the driving eccentrics. It will be apparent that a driving unit composed of the main supports lli or other convenient general supporting structure coupled with the cross support or bridge--v tree, the driving shaft 26,' brackets 3l and eccentrics is readily mountable as a unit to fit into a new construction for which the drive has been built or old structures which require a drive replacement. In this combination it will be noted that the drive shaft is formed in sections united in driving engagement by couplings l5 and each operating member 29 for each diaphragm plate, which takes the form of an eccentric directly connected between the shaft and the diaphragm plate, is positioned on one of said sections. Consequently, if for any reason theA operating member or eccentric 29 for any plate becomes broken or ceases to function properly, the section of shafting carrying the eccentricl can be readily removed and a plain piecey of shaftlng substituted in place thereof. Thus, the line of screens can be run with only the diaphragm section operated by the eccentric which has been removed being out of operation. Moreover, it will be noted that whereas each diaphragm plate is in direct connection with the drive shaft through a single eccentric 29, the plate is so formed to provide a connection for one end of the eccentric at the center of the plate. Thus, the whole connection is well balanced and with the employment of few operating parts the plates are easily and smoothly actuated.

The further means in the driving combination will be noted upon considering the main drive shaft bearings 21 which are carried in collar oiling bearings which form part of the bridge-tree 22. Thus, the bearings can not get out of line as they are all part of the one casting.

It'will be noted that in the preferred form of constructionthe rubber cushioning elements are supported from one end by .cup-like members carried inthe brackets. the opposite end of the elements being received in sockets attached to the diaphragm plates. 'Ihe adjustment for varying the tension in the preferred form of structure, it will be seen, takes the form of a screwthreaded shank connected to the cup members, the shank being adjustable in the brackets.

In Figs. 6 and 7 there is shown a modification whereby the utmost cheapness of construction and-ease of repair are made-possible. The eccentric 20 is provided with a lug 50, to which by means of bolts Il there is attached a flexible strap l2, which is attached to a lug .6I on diaphragm il by means of bolts N. Since resilient cushions or springs Il carry the weight oi the diaphragm and there is no function for eccentric other than to pull down on thediaphragm, the strap can be of any flexible material possessing sufiicient tensile strength, such as a steel spring, canvas, or processed textiles.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very practical and comparatively simple development has been provided under the present invention which will attain the objects sought.

Various modifications may be made -in this invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims, and therefore the exact forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only not in a limiting sense, and it is desired that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are disclosed in the prior art or are set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

l. In a fiat screen including a vat, a screen, a diaphragm and a diaphragm plate, all arranged in operative relationship, a diaphragm operating eccentric and means to rotate the same, and a flexible strap rigidly attached at its ends to said eccentric and to said plate to depress said plate, and resilient means coacting with said plate for supporting said plate and for returning said -plate to its uppermost position.

2. In a fiat screen including a vat, a screen, a diaphragm and a diaphragm plate, all arranged in operative relationship, a diaphragm operating eccentric and means to rotate the same, a iiexible strap rigidly attached at its ends to said ec\ centric and to said plate to depress said plate, and resilient means coacting with said plate for supporting said plate and for returning said plate to its uppermost position, said resilient means comprising a plurality of members placed under compression by said diaphragm operating member.

3. In a. flat screen including a vat, a screen, a diaphragm and a diaphragm plate. all'arranged in operative relationship, a diaphragm operating eccentric, and means to rotate the same, a flexible strap rigidly attached at its ends to said eccentric and to said plate to depress said plate, and resilient means coacting with said plate for supporting said plate and for returning said plate to its uppermost position, said resilient means comprising a plurality of members placed under compression by said diaphragm operating member and means variably to place said members under compression in accordancewith the weight of said plate.

4. In a fiat screen: a vat, a screen therein. a frame supporting said vat, a bridge member supported by said frame, a secondary frame supported by said bridge member, resilient supporting means carried by said secondary frame, a

diaphragm and a plurality of diaphragm plates supported by said resilient means in operative relationship to said screen, said resilient means permitting limited movement of said diaphragm and diaphragm plates relative to said screen, a rotatable drive shaft comprising a plurality of axially aligned sections journalled in said bridge member, a plurality of eccentrics respectively carried by and rotatable with said sections, a

plurality of flexible straps operatively connecting said diaphragm plates to said eccentrica, and detachable coupling members axially connecting said drive shaft sections whereby a section of said drive shaft and an eccentric may be removed and replaced by a new section of drive shaft.

5. In a at screen: a vat, a screen therein, a frame supporting said vat, a bridge member supported by said frame, a plurality of brackets supported by said bridge member, resilient supporting means carried by said secondary frame, a diaphragm and a plurality of diaphragm plates supported by said resilient means in operative relationship to said screen, said resilient means supporting said diaphragm plates in their uppermost position and yielding to permit limited downward movement of said diaphragm and diaphragm plates relative to said screen, a rotatable drive shaft comprising a plurality of axially aligned sections journalled in said bridge member, an eccentric carried by each of said sections, a flexible strap operatively connecting each of said diaphragm plates to one of said eccentrics whereby said drive shaft operates to move said diaphragm plates as permitted by said resilient supporting means, and detachable coupling members axially connecting said drive shaft sections whereby a section of said drive shaft and an eccentric may be removed and replaced by a new section of drive shaft.

DONALD M. WATEROUS. 

